Julia Keleher, LGBTQA office coordinator, makes it a priority to recognize the accomplishments of LGBTQA students at the University of Idaho.
Every year she helps run the Lavender Graduation, which does just that.
The Lavender Graduation ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. today in the Whitewater Room of the Idaho Commons. Admittance is free and open to the public. After the ceremony, there will be a reception with food and refreshments.
Lavender Graduation celebrates graduating LGBTQA students at UI. Along with the graduates, UI President Chuck Staben will attend, as well as Dean of Students Bruce Pitman and alumnus Chris Bidiman as the keynote speaker, according to Keleher.
Bidiman is the director of Inland Oasis, a volunteer organization that serves the needs of LGBTQA people of Palouse. He also does HIV and AIDS advocacy work and case management in five counties of Idaho.
“He’s an alumnus, so he’s been doing this work in this community,” Keleher said. “I thought it was really an opportunity to have him speak at the ceremony and provide that. Because he’s been there, he’s been in their seats, and now he’s doing really awesome, amazing things.”
Keleher said the purpose of Lavender Graduation is to provide a sense of community for LGBTQA students to prove they aren’t alone.
Dawn Trottier is a Lavender undergraduate who identifies herself as an ally. Keleher said it’s important to recognize allies as part of the LGBTQA community, because they make as much of a difference as anyone else.
“I feel that if someone is willing to be out there and to advocate and to want to make change and make things better, that they’re part of the community,” Keleher said. “LGBTQA and then ally people, there’s no separation between that. We’re all a part of one community.”
Along with being a Lavender Graduate, Trottier said she is also a disabled veteran. Trottier said some of her accomplishments at UI include co-founding the UI Veterans Center, as well as starting the non-traditional students website.
“I couldn’t find any services for a non-traditional student,” Trottier said. “So, with the help of the Women’s Center and Bruce Pitman, within my second or third year at the University of Idaho, the Women’s Center, and Bruce and I collaborated together and created the non-traditional student website.”
Trottier said a highlight for her in her time at UI was simply being a part of a community she loves.
“One of my highlights is finding myself and understanding the collaboration that actually takes place,” Trottier said.
Trottier said she hopes people attend Lavender Graduation, because it’s a good way to celebrate the acceptance UI shows to all diverse students. Trottier said she respects UI for the priority people set for providing services to non-traditional students, and how it’s something that has been continuous throughout her time at UI.
“In the 1970s, the Women’s Center was built by Virginia Wolf,” Trottier said. “And because of her acceptance and the coalition, we have a brilliant community at the University of Idaho. The Women’s Center, and the extension of the LGBTQA Office, because of that woman, makes the university what it is today.”
Erin Bamer can be reached at [email protected]